Edmonton-area family concerned over lack of communication during rec centre lockdown

Rayne-Anne Oosterveld and her two children were enjoying their Wednesday evening at the Meadows Rec Center, until the night took an unexpected turn.

Rayne-Anne Oosterveld and her two children were enjoying their Wednesday evening at the Meadows Rec Center, until the night took an unexpected turn.

“We started leaving and then we started hearing a woman stopping people in the hallway saying we are on lockdown,” Oosterveld said.

Unsure what to do or where to go, she talked to multiple staff members.

Still not knowing what the lockdown was for, Oosterveld said everyone was eventually directed to go to the gym.

On the way, she found a place to hide where she played games with her kids, trying to keep them calm. Oosterveld said staff said they couldn’t tell her what was happening and Oosterveld said that made her family even more scared.

Oosterveld said a voice eventually came on the intercom saying the building is closed, please leave. That didn’t help much, she said.

“It was unsettling too because we didn’t quite feel safe leaving the building. I didn’t know what was happening, I didn’t know if it was safe for me to go to my car,” Oosterveld said.

Police said the lockdown was in response to threat made over email. A 33-year-old man was arrested and is facing charges of uttering threats.